Child-proof pill box

ABSTRACT

A child-proof container for aspirin tablets and the like comprises a flanged body of resilient plastic and a sheet metal cover hinged thereon and having a hook positively interlocking with a ledge on a flange of the body as the cover is swung closed. By squeezing the assembly edgewise with a pressure greater than a small child can exert, the plastic body is deflected enough to release the ledge from the hook and allow the cover to be opened by the user&#39;&#39;s other hand while the squeezing pressure is maintained.

United States Patent 1 Foster 1 1 CHILD-PROOF PILL BOX [75] Inventor:John A. Foster, Rockford, Ill.

[73] Assignee: J. L. Clark Manufacturing C0,,

Rockford, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,889

[52] U.S. C1. 206/L5, 206/42, 220/43 P, 229/44 R [51] Int. Cl. A45c13/10, 865d 83/04 Field of Search 206/l.5, 42; 215/9; 220/31 S, 43 P, 60R; 229/44 R, 44 M, 45

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,651,983 3/1972 Haugen220/31 S 3,294,222 12/1966 Hodgson 206/42 3,342,318 9/1967 Ruekberg eta1. 206/42 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,631 11/1912 Great Britain206/1.5

[ 1 July 31, 1973 Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg AssistantExaminer-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann[57] ABSTRACT A child-proof container for aspirin tablets and the likecomprises a flanged body of resilient plastic and a sheet metal coverhinged thereon and having a hook positively interlocking with a ledge ona flange of the body as the cover is swung closed. By squeezing theassembly edgewise with a pressure greater than a small child can exert,the plastic body is deflected enough to release the ledge from the hookand allow the cover to be opened by the users other hand while thesqueezing pressure is maintained. 1

14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures CHILD-PROOF PILL BOX BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a box for aspirin tablets or thelike comprising a shallow generally rectangular and flanged body and aflanged cover hinged to one side flange of and adapted to telescope withthe body flange as the cover is swung to closed position in which it isheld releasably by the interengagement of formations on the box andcover flanges at the free edge of the latter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general object of the present invention isto render a pill box of the above character child-proof, as contemplatedby existing Federal regulations, by providing for positive latching ofthe cover against opening in the normal way even by an adult whileproviding for release of the latch and opening of the cover by acombination of forces capable of being applied by separate hands of anormal adult but greater than a small child is able to exert. Thisobjective is achieved by making one of the parts of rigid constructionand the other of material such as resilient plastic adapted to yield andbe deflected sufficiently under edgewise squeezing pressure ofpredetermined magnitude to release a hook type latch which actspositively in holding the cover closed. While the squeezing pressure,beyond the strength capabilities of a small child, is being exerted byone hand of the adult user to hold the latch released, the cover may belifted by the users other hand and swung upwardly to open the box.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the cover latchand the flanges of the plastic body to provide for the deflectionrequired for releasing the cover only while edgewise pressure of theproper magnitude is being applied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acontainer embodying the present invention and illustrating the manner ofapplying the combination of forces required for opening the container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open container.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of the inside and outside of the containerafter opening thereof.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are double size sections taken along the lines 5-5 and 66of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlargement of a part of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are elevational views of the front and rear edges of theclosed container.

FIG. 10 is a plan top view of the open container body while deflected byedgewise squeezing, the deflection being shown on an exaggerated scale.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 10 while the closed container is being squeezed edgewise asillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 butshowing a modified construction.

FIG. 14 is a section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 15-I5 ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a section taken along the line 16-l6 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the inventionis shown for purposes of illustration incorporated in a shallow andgenerally rectangular container of the type commonly used for aspirintablets and the like and comprising a rectangular body 10 having a flatbottom 11 and an upstanding peripheral flange l2 and a cover 13 having agenerally flat top 14 and a depending peripheral flange 15 joined alongone side to the body flange by a hinge l6 and adapted to telescope downover and around the upper portion of the body flange to form a closedassembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 10 and the cover 13incorporate numerous novel features which coact in unique ways to renderthe closed assembly child-proof in the sense contemplated by Federalregulations, that is to say, virtually all small children, for examplefour years old, are not capable of reading and understandinginstructions marked for adults on containers and do not possess thestrength or dexterity required for opening of the container. On theother hand, a normal adult is capable by using both hands to apply thecombination of forces needed to open the container.

Among these features is the making of the cover 13 of rigidconstruction, preferably of sheet metal and the body 10 as a singlepiece molding of resilient plastic material such as polypropylene whichis capable of being compressed and deflected by edgewise squeezing ofthe closed assembly.

Secondly, provision is made for holding the cover closed positively sothat it cannot be swung open in the normal way even by an adult. Forthis purpose, a narrow and preferably flat length 17 of the flange 15 atthe free edge of the cover is bent inwardly and somewhat reversely so asto form a latch in the form of a book 18 having an acute includedinternal angle. The hook is considerably shorter than the free side ofthe cover flange 15 and extends along the central portion thereof. Thefree edge 19 of the hook is located so that, in the final closing of thecover, the hook engages a ledge 21 formed by the upper surface of ashallow rib 20 extending along the outer surface of the body flange 12near the upper edge thereof. As the hook moves across the rib 20, thebody flange is cammed inwardly until the hook edge passes. The rib thensnaps inwardly beneath the edge 19 of the hook (FIGS. 5 and 7) as thecover reaches fully closed position. This position is determined hereinby engagement of the rounded end of the hook with a peripheral web 30extending around the flange 12 between opposite ends of the hinge I6 anddisposed parallel to the bottom 11 about midway between the upper andlower edges of the flange 12. To facilitate molding, the ledge 21 isinclined upwardly somewhat from the bottom 11 of the body as shown inFIG. 7. Preferably, a shallow rib 22 is formed along the inner surfaceof the body flange I2 on the inner side thereof opposite the ledge 21 tostrengthen this portion of the flange.

Release of the latch hook 18 to permit upward swinging of the cover iseffected in accordance with the present invention by exerting, onopposite edges of the closed assembly in the manner illustrated in FIG.1, forces indicated by the arrows c and d in FIG. 10 and of sufficientmagnitude to deflect the plastic body edgewise and move the ledge 21inwardly beyond the free edge 19 of the hook. Preferably, suchdeflection is achieved by inward bending of opposite sides of the bodyflange 12 as illustrated in FIG. in response to edgewise squeezing ofthe closed assembly between the face of the thumb 32 and the forefinger33 of one of the users hands, the force c being applied to the hinge 16preferably near the center thereof while the force d is applied to anauxiliary flange 34 spaced outwardly from and connected through the web30 with the free edge side of the flange 15. When the hook 185 is ofsubstantially uniform width throughout its length (FIGS. 1 to 10), theforce d is preferably exerted on the flange 34 at a point spaced fromthe center of this flange. To guide the adult user, areas 16" and 34" ofcolors eontrasting with that of the cover 13 may be printed on the coverand its flange 15 to indicate the lines along which the forces 0 and dare to be applied to the closed assembly in order to insure consistentrelease of the cover.

To facilitate the desired inward bowing of the flange 12 on the hingeside of the body, the hinge 16 includes a pintle 23 integral with andspaced outwardly from the body flange l2 and spaced somewhat above thebottom 11 of the body. Opposite ends of the pintle are integral withoutwardly projecting lugs 24 on the body flange. To complete the hinge,an edge portion 25 of the cover flange 15 is inserted between the bodyflange and the plastic pintle 23 and rolled around the latter in thefinal assembly operation. The hinge curl 25 is held in centered positionby arcuate ribs 26 which are integral with the lugs 24 and extendpartially around the hinge axis. The length of the hinge issubstantially less than the body 10 and a small radial clearanceindicated at a in FIG. 10 is provided between the curl and the pintle.It will be observed that the hinge is disposed between upper and loweredges of the body flange 12 so as to allow for inward bending of thelatter by the force 0.

The ledge 21 on the opposite or free side of the body flange 12 is alsodisposed well above the bottom 11 of the body (See FIGS. 7 and 11) sothat by bowing this side of the flange inwardly relative to the bottom11 as illustrated on an exaggerated scale in FIG. 10, the centralportion of the ledge engaging the hook 18 will be moved inwardly fromthe edge 19 of the hook and beyond the latter as shown in FIG. 11 andout of engagement with the full length of hook thus releasing the coverfor upward swinging. Forthis purpose, the web 30 is spaced above thebottom 11 of the body and is joined to the auxiliary flange 34intermediate the upper and lower edges of the latter. Thus, under theforce d applied to the flange 34, the central portion of the flange 12will be bent inwardly relative to the bottom 11 and about the roundedjunction between the latter and the flange 12. As a result, the fulllength of the flange 12 will be bowed inwardly far enough to move theledge 21 beyond the hook edge 19 over the full length of the latter. Tofacilitate the, desired inward bowing of flange 12, the lower edgeportion 34a of the axiliary flange 34 is reinforced by crosspieces 36(FIGS. 4 and 11) integrally joining the two flanges at spaced pointsalong their lengths.

To insure holding of the ledge 21 securely in engagement with the hook18 while permitting inward bowing under the edgewise squeezing, thehinge side of the body flange 12 is stiffened by the molding on theouter side thereof of two upright nibs 37 (FIGS. 3 and 17) extendingpartially across the flange 12 starting near the upper edge thereof.These ribs stiffen the upper edge portion of the flange on the side ofthe body opposite the ledge 21 and assist in holding the ledge securelyin engagement with the hook while the cover is in closed position.Preferably, each nib tapers downwardly as shown in FIG. 17 so as not toengage the edge 15a of the flange 15 and block the swinging of the coverto fully closed position.

The rigidity of the cover 13, resiliency of the plastic of the body 10,the thickness of the flange 12, the spacing of the web 34 above thebottom 11 of the body, and the required inward bowing of the flange forreleasing the hook 18 are correlated with each other so that themagnitude of the edgewise squeezing required to be exerted on the hinge16 and the auxiliary flange 34 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10 fordisengaging the ledge 21 from the edge 19 of the hook 18 is capable ofbeing applied by a normal adult but is greater than the expectedstrength capability and dexterity of a four year old child. Under therequired squeezing pressure, the clear ance a in the hinge is taken up,the pintle 16 and its supportig flange are shifted inwardly and theflange 12 at the free edge of the body are shaped and bowed inwardlyapproximately as shown in FIG. 10 with the result that the ledge 21 ismoved inwardly relative to the cover hook 18 beyond the edge 19 of thelatter over the full length thereof. Upward swinging of the cover thusreleased from the body may be effected by upward pressure exerted by adigit 42 of the other hand of the user on one or both of two tabs 41formed on and projecting outwardly from the cover preferably near thecorners and the top thereof. Indicia 41a on the top of the coverindicate the location of the tabs 41.

The closed position of the cover is limited as shown in FIG. 6 byabutment of the hook end 38 (FIG. 7) and the edge 15a of the flange 15with a flange 43 which is a continuation of the web 30 and extendsaround the ends of the body 10 (FIGS 2, 6 and 9). If desired, access tothe abutment joint between the cover edge 15a and the web 30 and theflange 43 may be prevented by a flange 39 of lesser depth than theauxiliary flange 34 and integral with the outer edge of the abutmentflange 42 all around the ends of the body as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 9.

In some containers, the protective flange 39 and the lift tabs 41 may beomitted in order to reduce the overall size of the container andsimplify its manufacture. Such a modification is shown in FIGS. 12 to 16in which the parts corresponding to those above described are indicatedby the same reference numerals. In this modification, the bottom 11 ofthe sheet metal cover 13 is domed somewhat as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15and the edge flange 39 above described is omitted leaving the abutmentjoint between the body flange 43 and the cover edge 15a exposed aroundthe ends of the closed assembly.

Release of the cover hook 18 in response to edgewise squeezing of theclosed assembly may be achieved by applying the force d near the centerof the flange 34 and closed assembly as illustrated in FIG. 12. Toinsure consistency of the release, it is desirable to make the centralportion 19a of the cover flange 17 defining the hook l8 somewhatnarrower, usually on the order of 0.010 of an inch, as illustrated on anexaggerated scale in FIG. 16. By thus changing the shape of the hookedge 19, the primary engagement between the ledge and the hook is at andnear the ends of the edge 19 so that the inward bowing of the flange 12in response to the force d when applied near the center of the flange 34effectually disengages the ledge from the hook thus releasing the coverin the desired way.

it will be apparent from the foreoging foregoing the containercontemplated by the present invention is child-proof as defined above inthat the cover is held positively against opening in the normal wayeither by an adult or a child, that access to the container contentscannot be gained by the application of any combinations of the forceswithin the strength capabilities and expected dexterity of a four yearold child but, by edgewise squeezing of the closed container withsufficient force and by one hand, a normal adult may release the coverand, while continuing the edgewise squeezing, swing the cover open usinghis other hand.

I claim:

1. A child-proof container for pills and the like having, incombination, a body composed of resilient plastic and having a generallyflat bottom and an upstanding peripheral flange with opposite generallyparallel sides, a cover composed of rigid material having a dependingflange adapted to partially telescope down over and around the upperportion of said body flange to a limit closing position, a hinge joiningsaid body and cover along adjacent sides of said flanges for swinging ofthe cover to and away from said closed position, formations on theopposite free sides of said body and cover flanges interengaging as thecover reaches said closed position and acting positively to latch thecover against reverse swinging, and a second flange integral with thefree side of the body flange and spaced outwardly from said free side ofthe cover flange, the parts of said plastic body being sufficientlyyieldable and deflectable in response to oppositely directed forces ofpredetermined magnitude exerted on said hinge and said second flange ofthe closed assembly to deflect the latter edgewise, shift saidformations edgewise relative to each other, and disengage the two enoughto release said cover for upward swinging to open the assembly.

2. A child-proof container as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge andsaid second flanges of said body are bendable toward each other inresponse to edgewise squeezing of said closed assembly.

3. A child-proof container as defined in claim 2 in which said hinge andsaid second flange are joined to opposite sides of said body flangebetween the upper and lower edges thereof.

4. A child-proof container as defined in claim 1 in which said rigidcover is composed of metal and said body is a single piece molding ofresilient plastic.

5. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said cover is composed ofmetal and said latching formation on the free edge flange thereof is anarrow portion of such flange bent inwardly and toward the top of thecover to form a hook coacting with a generally horizontal ledge on theopposed side wall of the body flange.

6. A container as defined in claim 5 in which said hook extends alongthe central edge portion of the free side of the cover flange and issubstantially shorter than the length of such side so that said ledgemay be released from the hook by inward bowing of the central part ofthe free side of the body flange.

7. A container as defined in claim 4 in which the bent portion of saidcover flange forms a substantially acute included angle with the flange.

8. A container as defined in claim 1 in which the pintle of said hingeis an integral part of the flange of said plastic body.

9. A container as defined in claim 1 including a formation projectingoutwardy and edgewise from the exposed top of said cover to facilitateupward swinging of the cover by one hand of the user while said requirededgewise squeezing force is being exerted by the users other hand tohold said latch released.

10. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said second flange isextended around the adjacent ends of the box so as to cover theperipheral line of abutment between the edges of said body and coverflange in said closed position of the cover.

11. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge includes apintle integral at opposite ends with and spaced outwardly from saidbody flange and a portion of said cover flange curled around saidpintle, said hinge being substantially shorter than said body andoperable during said edgewise squeezing to bow the cover flangeinwardly.

12. A container as defined in claim 11 including be tween said hingecurl and said pintle a small clearance which allows for some edgewiseshifting of said cover and inward bowing of the body flange during saidedgewise squeezing of the closed assembly.

13. A container as defined in claim 5 in which upright nibs moldedintegral with the hinge side of said body flange beyond opposite ends ofsaid hinge extend across the upper portion thereof and reinforce theflange whereby to assist in holding said ledge in engagement with theedge of said hook in the closed position of said cover.

14. A container as defined in claim 13 in which said nibs taperdownwardly so as not to engage the lower edge of the cover flange andinterfere with upward swinging of the cover.

1. A child-proof container for pills and the like having, incombination, a body composed of resilient plastic and having a generallyflat bottom and an upstanding peripheral flange with opposite generallyparallel sides, a cover composed of rigid material having a dependingflange adapted to partially telescope doWn over and around the upperportion of said body flange to a limit closing position, a hinge joiningsaid body and cover along adjacent sides of said flanges for swinging ofthe cover to and away from said closed position, formations on theopposite free sides of said body and cover flanges interengaging as thecover reaches said closed position and acting positively to latch thecover against reverse swinging, and a second flange integral with thefree side of the body flange and spaced outwardly from said free side ofthe cover flange, the parts of said plastic body being sufficientlyyieldable and deflectable in response to oppositely directed forces ofpredetermined magnitude exerted on said hinge and said second flange ofthe closed assembly to deflect the latter edgewise, shift saidformations edgewise relative to each other, and disengage the two enoughto release said cover for upward swinging to open the assembly.
 2. Achild-proof container as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge and saidsecond flanges of said body are bendable toward each other in responseto edgewise squeezing of said closed assembly.
 3. A child-proofcontainer as defined in claim 2 in which said hinge and said secondflange are joined to opposite sides of said body flange between theupper and lower edges thereof.
 4. A child-proof container as defined inclaim 1 in which said rigid cover is composed of metal and said body isa single piece molding of resilient plastic.
 5. A container as definedin claim 1 in which said cover is composed of metal and said latchingformation on the free edge flange thereof is a narrow portion of suchflange bent inwardly and toward the top of the cover to form a hookcoacting with a generally horizontal ledge on the opposed side wall ofthe body flange.
 6. A container as defined in claim 5 in which said hookextends along the central edge portion of the free side of the coverflange and is substantially shorter than the length of such side so thatsaid ledge may be released from the hook by inward bowing of the centralpart of the free side of the body flange.
 7. A container as defined inclaim 4 in which the bent portion of said cover flange forms asubstantially acute included angle with the flange.
 8. A container asdefined in claim 1 in which the pintle of said hinge is an integral partof the flange of said plastic body.
 9. A container as defined in claim 1including a formation projecting outwardy and edgewise from the exposedtop of said cover to facilitate upward swinging of the cover by one handof the user while said required edgewise squeezing force is beingexerted by the user''s other hand to hold said latch released.
 10. Acontainer as defined in claim 1 in which said second flange is extendedaround the adjacent ends of the box so as to cover the peripheral lineof abutment between the edges of said body and cover flange in saidclosed position of the cover.
 11. A container as defined in claim 1 inwhich said hinge includes a pintle integral at opposite ends with andspaced outwardly from said body flange and a portion of said coverflange curled around said pintle, said hinge being substantially shorterthan said body and operable during said edgewise squeezing to bow thecover flange inwardly.
 12. A container as defined in claim 11 includingbetween said hinge curl and said pintle a small clearance which allowsfor some edgewise shifting of said cover and inward bowing of the bodyflange during said edgewise squeezing of the closed assembly.
 13. Acontainer as defined in claim 5 in which upright nibs molded integralwith the hinge side of said body flange beyond opposite ends of saidhinge extend across the upper portion thereof and reinforce the flangewhereby to assist in holding said ledge in engagement with the edge ofsaid hook in the closed position of said cover.
 14. A container asdefined in claim 13 in which said nibs taper downwardly so as not toengage the lower edge of the cover flange And interfere with upwardswinging of the cover.